Time-piece dial



(No Model.)

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

TIME PIECE DIAL.

Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT MARTIN V. B. ETIIRIDGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF T\VO TIIIRDS TO JOHN SlYANN, OF NElV YORK, N. Y, AND HENRY E. \VAITE, OF \VEST NFAVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TIME-PIECE DIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,697, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed June 20, 1888 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN Y. B. ETHRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Piece Dial s; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention refers to a time-piece dial, and relates especially to that class of timepiece dials wherein the hours of the day, from one to twenty-four, are designated by means of a radial series of intermittently rotary spindles, each carrying a block, plate, or disk, on the faces of which are marked numerals representing the hours; and the present improvement consists, essentially, in novel means for imparting apartial rotation to each spindle of the series consecutively duringthc revolution of the clock-hands and for steadily holding said spindles in the position to which they may have been turned. In addition to these essential features of the improvement this invention includes certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustratin g my invention, Figure .l. is a rear view of a time-piece having a dial of the class above referred to and showing my invention applied thereto, the rear portion of the time-piece being removed to expose the shifting spindles within, as also their actuating mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the same, showin a couple of spindles and the disk on the hour-hand sleeve. Fig. 3 is a view showing a disk and a portion of a couple of the spindles, the notch in the disk being closed and the projecting device removed, so that the time-piece may be con verted into an ordinary time-piece. Fig. is

an edge view in partial section showing a modification in the construction of the revolving disk or plate which operates to turn the spindles.

Fig. 5 shows an elevation and a Serial No. 277,634:x (N0 model.)

horizontal edge view of the same and indi- 5o cates the manner in which it operates.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different figures.

" As I have already stated above, the dial to which my present invention is applicable is of the kind having a radial series of rotary spindles, which are provided with numeral blocks, plates, or disks, upon which the hours of the day from one to twenty-four are marked. These spindles are suitably journaled at each end, so as to be rotated under the impulse of actuating devices arranged in connection therewith. They are thus caused to present at one time one face to view and at another time another face, so that the numeral indicated on the frontface of the blocks is subject to constant change in order that the entire time-piece may accomplish the object of its construction, which is to note the time of day throughout the whole of the twenty-four hours by a regularly-increasing series of hour-marks from one to twenty-ton r.

The purpose of the present improvement is to provide improved means for individually rotating the spindles and for holding them immovably in the position to which they may have been moved.

A denotes the spindles, which are arranged in a radial series, as shown, their inner ends bein jonrnaled in a suitable rim or sleeve, (1, while their outer ends are carried in bearings formed in the clock-casing. Each spindle A carries at or near its outer end a plate, disk,

block, or other device, 13, that registers with It will be evident, therefore, that if a suit- 9 5 able actuating device comes in contact with the projecting pins 0 the spindles will be successively rotated, so that the blocks B will be The spindles c.

' other device, D, so as to revolve with said I sleeve.

This plate or disk may be of greater or less diameter, if desired. It will, however, be so constructed as to permit its circumference to project over the quadrangular blocks C. This plateD is formed at one point in its 2o circumference with a notch, recess,'indentation, aperture, or shoulder, d, preferably rectangular in shape, to correspond somewhat to the form of the block G, which in the present example of my invention is quadrangular in shape.

Variations in the size and shape of the notch 01 may doubtless be employed to a considerable extent, as also obvious difierences may exist in the structure of the blocks 0,

the idea employed in this invention being that the plate D shall be furnished with such a notch that when said plate in its revolutions brings the notch opposite the turnstileblock the outline of the notch will surround 5 the block, so that the latter may be free to turn without coming in contact with the plate, for it may be mentioned that the plate D is in proximity to the block C. Thus it will be observed that the blocks 0 rest with their faces close to the plate D, and will be held firmly and cannot rotate or become displaced, except at such times when the notch d comes opposite one of these blocks. Then said block may turn if an agency acts thereupon. A

rod or arm, E, projects from the disk or plate D in the notch d, and preferably on a radial line of the disk. It extends beyond the periphery of the disk, so that as said disk revolves said pin or arm E will strike the pro- 5o jecting pins 0 c, which lie in its path.

The operation of turning the spindles by means of the projecting pin or arm E and of holding them by the disk D firmly in the positions to which they may have been turned will be evident from the description of the construction and relation of the parts that have just been given without need of further detail. The plate D will hold all the spindles firmly in place and keep them from rotating,

except at the times when the notch is brought opposite any one block, which block is thus set free, and the pin E is permitted to come into contact with the pin 0 on the quadrangular block and thus rotate the spindle.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have represented ELIIIOdlfication in the construction of the disk D.

The essential principle of operation still obtains and is the same as that employed in the oth er figures; b ut the construction of the parts is diiferent. In Figs. 1 and 2 We have a simple flat circular plate notched at one point in its periphery and carrylng a projecting pin, which pin is in a radial line of the disk. In Figs. 4 and 5 we have a circular plate, D, which is intact and is secured upon the hour-hand sleeve in like manner with the disk D. The disk or plate D 1s provided with a peripheral flange, F, which proj ects toward the series of spindles and s at right angles to the disk D. Said flange is at a certain point notched or recessed at f. (See Fig. 5.) Instead of having the plate or disk in close proximity to the series of quadrangular blocks on the turnstiles, I have in this modification the edge of the flange F located in proximity to said blocks. Projecting horizo'ntally from the disk D at a point near the notch f in the flange is a suitably-shaped pin or other outwardly-extending device, (denoted G,) which is so located that during the revolution of the disk it may come in contact with the pins c on the blocks 0. The position of the pin with respect to the slot f is shown in Fig. 5, where it is seen to be opposite the central line of said slot.

WVith this modified construction the operation of the invention is substantially the same as already described. The flange F will hold all the spindles firmly in place and keep them from rotating, except at thetimes when the notch f is brought opposite any one block, which block is thus set free, so that the pin or extensionv G is permitted to act on the pin 0 and thus rotate the spindle. This modified arrangement of the disk and its attachments serves merely to indicate another way of carrying out the essential idea of the present invention, which is that of a notched or indented revoluble disk on the hourhand sleeve, which disk has a projecting pin that successively engages turnstiles carried by the spindles, and thus causes said spindles to be rotated, so that the hours of the day from one to twenty-four may be displayed 011 the face of the dial.

In Fig. 3 the disk D is shown similar to that in Fig. 2; but instead of having the notch or indentation at said notch has been closed or filled up, so that the disk is intact and a complete disk; Furthermore, the projecting pin or arm has been removed. Obviously the spindles cannot now be rotated. Thus the time-piece or clock is converted into an ordinary clock, and although the spindles remain, yet they designate the hours from one to twelve only, and all the other mechanism of the time-piece may be that of the twelve-hour system.

- With my present improvement all friction is avoided when the numeral-blocks are turned, excepting the simple touch of the arm that projects from the disk when said arm passes by each turnstile, which touch is very slight. Only one block can turn at once, and

IIO

then only at its proper time. When the revolving disk or locking-plate carries the projecting arm or pin through each turnstile, it supplements the action of the arm or pin by preventing the turnstilc from returning to its original position, when the pin elevates it and acts as a locking-plate for all the turnstiles by keeping their faces level with the clockplate. Thus when the clock is shipped from the factory no jarring can ever get the blocks out of place.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a timepiece dial, a series of radial rotary spindles carrying turnstiles, in combination with a single-notched disk or plate and a projecting pin or arm thereon, substantially as described.

2. In a time-piece dial, the combination of a series of radial rotary spindles having turir stiles thereon, a disk secured to the hou r-hand sleeve and having a single notch in its periphery, and a projecting arm or pin upon the disk, substantially as described.

3. In combination with one or more adial spindles of a time-piece dial, said spindles being provided with projecting pins thereon, a notched disk and a pin or arm projecting from said disk, substantially as described.

4;. In a time-piece dial, the combination of a series of radial rotary spindles carrying turnstiles, a disk secured to the hour-hand sleeve having a notched flange, and a projecting pin or arm on the disk, substantially as described.

5. In a time-piece dial, the combination, with a series of radial rotary spindles carrying turnstiles, of the disk I), notched at (l, and the pin or arm E, projecting from the disk, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I a'iiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN Y. 1;. ETIIRIDGE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. IIALL ADAMS, G. W. Tnmvnninen. 

